Renault Duster Review
Car tested: 2012 Renault Duster 110 PS RxZ
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 13,35,483/-
“The Duster is about SUV appeal with the driving dynamics of a sedan”
It’s not often a car is launched which can change the fortune of an entire company. The Duster is one such vehicle and Renault is betting big on this car. This is the fourth offering from Renault in India with the previous products, the Pulse, Fluence and Koleos not making ripples in the industry. First showcased at the 2012 Auto Expo in Delhi earlier this year, the Renault Duster is the first of the compact SUV’s to make it to the market. The response it has got is immense with more than 8000 bookings in the initial few days, which happens to exceed the total number of cars Renault sold last year. It looks worthy on paper, but just how good is it, we find out in the beautiful countryside roads in Kerala.
The Renault Duster is originally a brainchild of Dacia, a Romanian auto manufacturer which is now a subsidiary of Renault. Dacia is also responsible for the Logan and the Duster is based on the same platform. The Renault Duster has been selling in Europe since 2010 and is the first to open up the compact SUV segment in India. According to Renault, it is positioned to attract buyers from SUV, sedan and premium hatchback segment.
Exteriors – There is no mistaking the Renault Duster on the road, its broad and muscular stance reflects its SUV DNA. The front houses double barrel headlamps with a large chrome grille, the Renault logo sits confidently in the center. The front bumper gets two tone color treatment with black cladding and aluminum finished skid plate. Large mesh-work covers the air dam and the Renault Duster looks very appealing indeed.
The sides have prominent and muscular wheel arches with 16-inch alloy wheels. Roof rails and side steps enhance the SUV profile and Renault has offered pull type door handles instead of the grab type ones. The top end variants get silver finished ORVM’s while the lower variants get body colored outside rear view mirrors. Large windows give a roomy feeling to the cabin.
The muscular theme continue to the rear. The bulging rear wheel arches can be appreciated well from the rear profile. The tail lamp cluster is simple yet elegant and is complemented by bulging surrounds on the boot. ‘DUSTER’ is boldly inscribed on the chrome garnish. There is a black button which can be pressed to release the boot, there is also provision to open it with the key. Similar to the front, the rear bumper is also of two tone color arrangement with aluminum finished skid plate. The rear bumper houses the reverse parking sensors with reflectors on either side.
Head over to the next page to read about the interiors of the Renault Duster.
Interiors – The dashboard of the Renault Duster consists of a two-tone black and beige arrangement. Fit and finish is good with no irregular panel gaps anywhere. However, the interiors clearly signify that the Renault Duster is built to a price. The plastics are average and could have been a step better. Renault has worked very hard to slot the Duster in a competitive price bracket and these are just the few bits they had to let go. The doors get a dash of wood to break the black and beige continuity. The front door gets map pockets where a one-litre bottle just about fits. There are two 12V charging points, one at the front and the second behind the left rear seat, a convenient option for those you need to charge their devices on the go. The front seats are comfortable with sufficient back and thigh support.
The rear seats are comfortable and there is enough legroom and headroom behind for tall passengers with average thigh support. The top end RxZ variant gets artificial leather seats while the lower variants get fabric seats, which are pretty good too.
The glove box is average in size and is backlit at night.
There is no rubber beading on the doors and rear doors do not have map pockets at all.
The drivers seat gets 8-way adjustment feature including lumbar support. The height adjustment lever is placed at the front and is a bit flimsy.
The steering wheel feels good to hold but could have been slightly smaller. The footwell is average in size with the dead pedal being conspicuous by its absence. Notice the round dial on the right side, it is the headlamp level adjuster. The AC cools quickly and efficiently and Renault is not offering automatic climate control, not even on the top variant. The rear passenger of the Renault Duster get an individual blower placed between the front seats. This is operated independently and has 2 speed setting. Unlike the Nissan Sunny, it not a mere blower but a proper air conditioning unit. It is however too noisy on fan speed 2.
The Audio system comprises of 4-speakers and supports USB/AUX connectivity with average sound quality. The system also allows you to stream music from your phone via Bluetooth. The best part is that you can go to the next song by hitting the next button on the system rather than doing it from the phone. Calls can be made and answered though the phone menu. Unlike regular cars, the volume cannot be increased from the dial, there are volume increase/decrease buttons meant for the job and take time getting used to.
Similar to the Fluence, audio controls have been provided behind the steering wheel.
The instrument cluster reminds you of the Logan and is easy to read. The is only one trip meter instead of the usual two.
The Renault Duster offers a very big boot measuring 475-liters and you can fold up the rear seats to stretch it up to 1064-liters. Renault is also offering an option to attach 2 jump seats for the kids in the boot. This will be available as an accessory at their dealerships and will be good option for those who want 7-seater practicality.
The spare wheel is mounted underneath contributing to the rear space. The fifth wheel is an alloy with the same specification tire.
Head over to the next page to read about the driving dynamics of the Renault Duster.
Ride, Handling and Braking – The Renault Duster may be a compact SUV but it has the driving dynamics of a sedan. Body roll is an inherent part of an SUV but the Duster has managed to shrug it off completely. The steering is decently heavy at low speeds and weighs up further at high speeds. Handling is brilliant and the Renault Duster will precisely head in the direction you point the steering wheel. Driving around the ghats in Munnar was good fun behind the wheel, the Duster would be precisely head in the direction you point the steering at. High speed stability is good but due to the high center of gravity, it feels as if its going faster than it actually is.
215/65/16 MRF Wanderer tires offer good drip and surprisingly do not squeal around when taking corners at high speeds. The Renault Duster gets front disc and rear drum brakes and braking performance is commendable with the Duster stopping from 100 km/h without any hassles.
Performance – Renault is offering three engine options for the Duster which include one petrol and two diesel motors. The 1.6-litre petrol engine produces 104 PS of peak power and has an ARAI certified mileage of 13.24 km/l. The Diesel variants are powered by the renowned K9K series of diesel engines with different power ratings. This 1.5-litre diesel is available in two trims offering 85 PS and 110 PS of peak power. The 85 PS version has a certified mileage of 20.46 km/l and also powers the Nissan Sunny. You can’t give double ignition as there is a lock to prevent that.
There was only one engine option available at the media drive and it was the top of the line 110 PS version. This engine produces a torque of 248 Nm at 2250 RPM (8 Nm more than Fluence). There is a considerable amount of turbo lag till 2000 RPM after which the engine pulls cleanly with a strong mid and high range. As long as you are in the turbo band, you will love this engine. Engine refinement is brilliant with hardly any engine sound creeping into the cabin even at high revs. A 6-speed manual gearbox comes standard in the 110 PS variant while the petrol and 85 PS diesel variant get a 5-speed manual gearbox. We would have loved if Renault had offered an automatic variant as well.
The gearbox is smooth with no notchy feeling whatsoever with gear ratios to match most driving situations. The clutch is a little on the heavier side and has a fair bit of play but one gets used to it quickly. The sixth gear comes handy on the highways and in-gear acceleration is good. However, you may need to go down a few gears for efficient overtaking on the highways. ARAI certified mileage for the 110 PS K9K engine is around 19 km/liter but once can expect around 15 km/l. The K9K engine is very fuel efficient and based on your driving style, will deliver good performance without compromising too much on the mileage of the Renault Duster.
NVH levels are good overall but there is a considerable amount of wind and tire noise at high speeds. The engine sounds is minimal in the cabin even at idle, thanks to good damping as shown in the picture. Even on irregular road surfaces, there was no vibration or rattling and Renault has done a good job with the built quality. The doors are heavy and shut with a loud thud.
The Duster impressed with its off-road capability as well. Though it is not a true SUV and has a front wheel drive configuration, it did pretty well in off-road conditions which included wet grass and muddy terrain with parts of slush. The 30-degree approach angle, 35-degree departure angle along with no overhangs ensured that it went over everything without kissing its underbelly anywhere. A healthy ground clearance of 205 mm played its part too.
Head over to the next page to read our conclusion on the Renault Duster.
Conclusion – After spending a full day with this crossover and driving through a variety of terrain, the Renault Duster comes across as a very impressive package. It offers brilliant ride and handling combination with the driving dynamics of a sedan, muscluar looks and an appeal of an SUV. It also delivers good performance with great fuel efficiency with abundant boot space. Renault is offering a 2 + 2 year, 80,000 kms warranty and has drawn first blood in the compact SUV segment. The only downside, if any, is the quality of interiors but at this price point, Renault has surely hit the jackpot and the Duster is going to be in demand for a very long time.
Whats Cool
* Butch looks
* Space
* Handling
Whats Not So Cool
* Renault Dealership Network Not Big Enough
* Plastics Quality Average
* No 4×4 Option
2012 Renault Duster Specifications : –
* Engine: 1598cc, 1.6 K4M (Petrol), 1461cc dCi K9K (Diesel)
* Power: 104 PS (P), 85 PS (85 PS Diesel), 110 PS (110 PS Diesel)
* Torque: 145 Nm (P), 200 Nm (85 PS Diesel), 248 Nm (110 PS Diesel)
* Transmission: 5-speed manual (P and 85 PS D), 6-speed manual (110 PS D)
* Fuel Consumption (ARAI): 13.24 km/l (P), 20.46 km/l (85 PS), 19.01 km/l (110 PS)
* Fuel Type: Petrol and Diesel
* Suspension: Independent McPherson Strut with Coil Springs and Anti-Roll Bar (Front), Torsion Beam Axle with Coil Springs and Anti-Roll Bar (Rear)
* Tires: 215/65/16 Tubeless Radials
* Brakes: Hydraulically Operated Diagonal Split Dual Circuit Braking; Ventilated Disc (Front), Drums (Rear), ABS, EBD
* Safety: ABS, EBD, Dual Front Airbags, Engine Immobilizer
2012 Renault Duster Dimensions : –
* Overall length x width x height: 4315 mm X 1822 mm X 1695 mm
* Wheelbase: 2673 mm
* Front/Rear Track: 1560/1567 mm
* Ground clearance: 205 mm
* Turning Radius – 5.2 m
* Boot Volume: 475 liters, 1064-liters (with rear seats folded)
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 50-liters
* Kerb Weight: 1160-1306 kgs